The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-08-13
Stanley Browns Romance.

hO vi Vic Sh6o
ment of Miss Mollie Garfield to J.
Stanley Brown makes public rO-
nance which has for some time been
known or suspected to the friends of
both. If the sharp eyes of watchful
women are trustworthy it is the cul-
mination of long attachment on the
part of Mr.. Brown.
When Stanley Brown and General
Garfield were first brought together
Brown was young stenographer,
with whose expertness General Gar
field was delighted. He was very
quiet, rather too modest young fell
low of nineteen. General Garfield
thought he had found treasure in
the young man, for his experience
with some committee clerks had been
somewhat unpleasant. He found
Brown punctual, quick, quiet, steady
and possessed of one qualification
that especially pleased Garfield. He
minded his own business. Garfield
appointed him clerk of his commit
tee, and in that capacity Brown was
thrown very much with the Garfield
family. They were then living in
Garfield's much-mortgaged house,
where General Garfield did a great
deal of work.
After his election to the Presidency
Garfield was urged to appoint one of
several young men as his private
secretary. One of these was disposed
to be politician on his own hook !;
another was bright but extremely
voluble young man, and still another
rather prided himself, somewhat to
Garfeld's amusement, on his re-
semblance to the General.
Garfield, however. said that he
wanted as his private secretary in
the White House no politician who
knew more than he did. and no anna
teur statesman. He wanted simply
faithful young man who would at
tend to the duties of the Executive
Office, who had a close mouth and
knew how to mind his own business.
and he had just such a person in
mind. Nobody knew who it was,
and when after his Inauguration as
President it proved to be young
Stanley Brown, there was a good
deal Of surprise among the pollti'
clans.
Brown was then only twenty-one
years old. He was wholly ignorant
of politics, and knew very little of
politicians. except what he had learn
ed as Garfield's secretary. AS his
taste did not run to politics he paid
little heed to political matters, and
this was exactly what Garfield wan
ted in a Presidents private secretary.
Brown was then a tall, slender young
man. His hair was very light and
curly, his eyes blue, his complexion
rosy, and there was just struggling
hint of a mustache growing. He
seemed 80 youthful, immature and
unaccustomed to the ways of the
world. and especially such an inno-
cent boy to put in front of subtle
politicians who daily frequent the
Secretary's Office in the White House,
that some of Garfield's friends feared
he had made mistake. To these
Garfield always replied that he knew
the boy, and that if he was imma-
ture he was discreet. Garfield treated
Brown more like relative than like
an employee, and with the rest of the
family he was looked upon as one of
them,
When General Garfield went into
the White House Mollie was school
girl of fourteen. She was charming
miss then. She gave promise, not OF
great beauty, but of utmost attrac-
tiveness of face and form, and in dis
position was called by all her asso.
ctdL6S OL6 vi su0 oWCOtCoo Va siiio'
Her fathers place as President never
affected her simplicity of manner or
her cordiality with the humblest of
her mates. She used to 60 tripping
MP Fifteenth street to school with
lot of schoolmates, dressed more
plainly than almost any one of them.
She was a merry girl, possessed of
some of her fathers playfulness and
love of fun. and even at that time
thought Stanley Brown the most
manly young fellow whom she knew.
At least 80 she told her mates. 1t
was simply the admiration and lik-
ing of schoolgirl, too young to
have ever had thought of serious
affection for anyone beyond the fam.
lily circle.
Miss Mollie's most attractive feat
ures were remarkably expressive and
beautiful eyes and most charming
smile. Those who were accustomed